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> a sufficiently sincere* apology may well defuse the situation entirely. > * 真 makoto, a word often glossed as "sincere" but not identical in meaning: it's ab

> a sufficiently sincere* apology may well defuse the situation entirely. > * 真 makoto, a word often glossed as "sincere" but not identical in meaning: it's about the amount of effort you're willing to take on, not how "honestly" you feel something While it's true that makoto can be translated as sincere(ly) in constructions like "makotoni moushiwakearimasen" (I sincerely apologize) (although this is written 誠に rather than 真に), it is unlikely that the word makoto would be used in a phrase like "a sincere apology" or in discussing how sincere an apology was, so I don't really think introducing the word "makoto" in your comment sheds any additional light on japanese culture surrounding apologies. You could actually make the exact same comment about how "real" in English can also effectively mean sincere in "really sorry" and draw the same conclusions about American culture.

eof 5y ago
My take away (as westerner with zero direct Japanese culture exposure) from the comment you’re replying to was that in Japan, companies are incentivized to take on some measure of ownership and voluntary restitution, because there is some legal notion in Japan around “honest mistakes not being litigable if they are genuinely rectified.”
- Aeolun 5y ago
  I think it’s more that legal measures would not be employed, rather than that they are legally unactionable. You could have an uphill battle against an unsympathetic judge in front of you if you sue anyway though.
- gowld 5y ago
  In the US "genuinely rectified" is the standard for civil suit ("actual damages" for negligence, and "specific performance" or monetary equivalent for contracts). Punitive damages are added only for malicious intent. The reason many US companies don't apologize is because they don't want to make restitution, and can get away without paying.

eof 5y ago

My take away (as westerner with zero direct Japanese culture exposure) from the comment you’re replying to was that in Japan, companies are incentivized to take on some measure of ownership and voluntary restitution, because there is some legal notion in Japan around “honest mistakes not being litigable if they are genuinely rectified.”

Aeolun 5y ago
I think it’s more that legal measures would not be employed, rather than that they are legally unactionable. You could have an uphill battle against an unsympathetic judge in front of you if you sue anyway though.
gowld 5y ago
In the US "genuinely rectified" is the standard for civil suit ("actual damages" for negligence, and "specific performance" or monetary equivalent for contracts). Punitive damages are added only for malicious intent. The reason many US companies don't apologize is because they don't want to make restitution, and can get away without paying.